Howard Bank, Howard County’s only locally owned and locally managed community bank, has opened its new Centennial Place branch, according to chairman, president and CEO Mary Ann Scully.

The building is located at the corner of Centennial Lane and Route 40 in Ellicott City.

“We’re very excited about our newest branch,” Scully said. “This represents another long term commitment for the bank to our community at a time when many are unable or unwilling to continue investing in the future. We have focused much planning and attention on this location because of its prominence on one of the busiest thoroughfares in the county as well as the expanded access it provides to the face to face advice offered by the bank in these challenging times – especially for the small businesses and residents of nearby Ellicott City, Turf Valley and western Howard County.. We expect it to be a win-win for the bank and the communities that we serve.”

Bank Vice President Daphne A. Dressler is the manager of the new branch. A resident of Eldersburg, Dressler was an assistant vice president and manager of Bank of America’s West Friendship Office before joining Howard Bank in December 2007.

“Daphne’s 25 years of banking experience, her broad expertise and her deep community knowledge – most especially of the Baltimore National Pike and the western part of Howard County – will lend an added dimension to Howard Bank’s promise to add value to relationships by consistently delivering sophisticated products, services and advice with a human hands on approach,” Scully said.

“This location should be very successful for us, and for consumers and small businesses. We welcome the opportunity to deliver the hands-on customized service Howard Bank is known for.”

Howard Bank opened in August of 2004. In addition to Centennial Place, it currently has branches in the Hickory Ridge Village Center in Columbia, on Snowden River Parkway in Ellicott City and on Johns Hopkins Road in Maple Lawn. For information about the bank, call 410-750-0020 or visit www.howardbank.com.